NBA Free Agents 2011: 5 Point Guards LA Lakers Must Target

For Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to win his sixth NBA championship and tie Michael Jordan, the team must find an upgrade at point guard.

Derek Fisher is too old to lead a championship team and Steve Blake has been a massive disappointment.

The point guard is arguably the most important position on the floor, and for the Lakers to contend now and in the future, they need a new point man.

Let's look at five point guards the Lakers must target in free agency.

JJ Barea

JJ Barea played a big role in helping the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals last season, and would give the LA a scoring upgrade at point guard.

The small point guard is not afraid to play physical, and does not shy away from driving into the lane and banging with centers and power forwards.

Barea's good outside shot will give the Lakers big men room in the paint and open up driving lanes for Kobe.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will undoubtedly try to hold onto his point guard, but he would be foolish to overpay.

Carlos Arroyo

Carlos Arroyo played well for the Miami Heat last season but when Mario Chalmers became the starter, it was clear his playing time was going to be cut a lot.

Arroyo went to the Celtics and did not play a lot of minutes but was effective. With the Heat he shot very well from the field, and did not hurt the team defensively.

The Lakers would not have to spend much to acquire Arroyo, and who could give the team a veteran point guard who can score and space the floor with his outside shooting.

TJ Ford

TJ Ford has not lived up to the potential he showed coming out of the University of Texas, but he's had success in the NBA and is still a quality playmaker.

The Lakers may be a good fit for Ford, as he would be surrounded by much talent and won't have to be the star or high scorer.

Ford would be an inexpensive solution for the Lakers to consider, thus making it a low-risk move.

Mario Chalmers

Mario Chalmers played a lot of point guard for the Miami Heat last season and was not afraid to take big shots in late-game situations.

Chalmers still hasn't developed into the point guard many think he can become, but he is a good outside shooter and capable defender.

Chalmers is a restricted free agent, and if the Lakers made a decent offer, the Miami Heat may not match it, as it would be foolish to overpay for Chalmers at this point in his career.

Rodney Stuckey

Rodney Stuckey did not have a good season with the Detroit Pistons last year; he did not play to his potential and had his disagreements with head coach John Kuester.

He has improved his game in recent seasons and is still a good offensive player who can shoot well from the outside.

Stuckey would not be a massive investment for the Lakers, but he is a good young player the Pistons will try their best to hold on to.